From inside the cab I called Travis and gave him Big sistas number.One call from me and he gets $1,200 and sometimes long life clients, even though in this business that could be short.If I wanted to hustle myself I could control this town.Everyone here is weak and not about business.That made doing business to damn risky.

We pulled up to the border of Lynnville projects.It must have rained when we were in the club.The night air was crisp and just on the brink of being warm.Early spring my favorite time of the year. I told the driver to pull over.I offered him the amount shown on the meter.He refused.I said okay and flipped a $20 over the front seat.

“You shouldn’t be walking out here all alone, ma’am.” He said poking his head out the drivers’ side window.

“To me, this is the safest place in the world.” I turned my back and walked away.He stayed there for a moment, then quickly pulled off when a group of local thugs got to close to the side of his cab.

I didn’t like living here.I got the money to move someplace nice, but no place nice could be as safe.

Goldie, by far the scariest of all the rats around here, was the best person to do business with.He didn’t speak to me when we weren’t talking about business.When he did want to do business he always had the money, he was always on time, and he told me I can walk safe in his hood.So I dropped the cost of his inventory.Now he supplies to most of the little rats around here, and most of the city.He never tells anyone where he gets his work, so the whole hood thinks he’s banging me.And that’s cool no one fucks with me.It works for me.

I walked down the street.It seemed to be dead tonight.I bet I’d get a delivery soon.There were no fiends, no little kids outside playing way past their bedtimes.Silence and that was worrisome the longer I walked and the quieter it seemed to get.I quickened my pace and made my way into the dirty corridor that led to my apartment.

I checked the halls, both ways, twice.Something just didn’t feel right.I opened the door and went in fast. I bolted all five locks from the inside. Took off my knock Vera Wang slingbacks, and began to move close to the couch.

He startled me as he began to move around.I knew that he was still having those bad dreams that haunted him the 2 years I’ve known him.I heard him softly murmur ‘I don’t want to be a gangster. It costs to much’.

My heart broke looking at him, remembering how alone I used to feel.Shit, used to feel.The way I have always felt.I stayed a safe distance from his swinging range and called his name sereval times raising my voice each time until he opened his eyes.

“They almost got him tonight.” He didn’t have to tell me who.I knew.Goldie had started making a lot of enemies.He had such low prices on his work, no one else could compete.“I put $135,000 in your safe.Do you mind if I crash here tonight?”

“You know you don’t have to ask. Go get in the bed we’ll talk in the morning.”

“I’ll make you pancakes.”

“I can’t wait.” I said as he sauntered off into his bedroom.He was 13 and on the fast track to taking over his father’s business.He had no fear in dangerous situations, because he had nothing to live for, but boy is he smart.I let him have unlimited access to my apartment as long as he brought good grades home.So, he did.I even had to go to the school and get him put in advanced classes so he wouldn’t be bored.

I snuck out of the club a few minutes after Sky left.I only came out because I wanted to get Sky out of that dank apartment.She was so beautiful; I don’t understand why she just wastes her life away stuck inside the house.If I had those long legs and a smile that lights up a room I wouldn’t be in the situation I’m in now.

“How do you know Sky?”

The voice was one I had never heard before. I turned to look and there was the cutest white boy I had ever seen up close.He had a short hair cut, and the light hue of his hair made his hazel eyes so sexy.

“How do you know Sky?

“I don’t.” I lied knowing he could tell.

“Tell her it’s time to stop running.”He handed me a card, turned and began to walk away.Every girl waiting for a cab on the corner was checked him out as he walked away.With their eyes on him, it was easy for me to snag the first cab that pulled up to the curb.If Sky was running from him, she was a fool.

I stuck the card in my bag and told the driver ‘643 Telsa, please’.I closed my eyes and imagined how wonderful it would be to be Sky.Hell, right now I would be happy to be anybody but Atrishia Baxter.

James sat in the office once occupied by his senior V.P.It had been six months since he had to sell his business to keep from going bankrupt.He was lucky the new owners saw some potential in him and kept him around.They even kept him as the CEO; the only difference was the office.He hated this office.His new office was occupied by Cindy Walsh, a perky little white woman that swept through like a hurricane.

She fired half his staff, dropped most of his long time customers, but managed to take the near bankrupt company into the black.James had owned Simmons programming for the last twelve years, and he needed seven of those years to turn a profit.Though it was meager, it was a profit none the less.He resented Ms. Cindy for doing what he could never do, in a shorter period of time.He resented her for the fast talking constantly moving people that now surrounded him.Most of all he resented himself for letting it happen.

The phone began to ring.He dreaded when the phone would ring these days, especially when the secretary didn’t buzz first.

“Simmons Programming, this is James Simmons can I help you.”

“You need to come home and get your son.He rigged the bathroom door to electrocute me when I touch it.You need to let him go away so he can stop doing things like this.”

He could hear Tom in the back round yelling over Shavon’s tears.“She got her pills and her vodka in there.She’s alright”

“Come get this boy before I kill him.”

“I know more ways to kill you.Maybe I’ll just up the wattage. What do you think Ma?”

“I’m sure he’ll let you out if you calm down.I don’t know what you did to provoke him this time, but don’t call me.”

“I did nothing to provoke him, he’s the devil.You have to come get him before he really hurts me.”

“Hurt you.Tell him what you did to Julie.Tell him how you called her a slut and pushed her down the steps.Tell him that, while you’re crying about me.”

“Where’s Julie?”

“She ran her fast ass out of here, probably at one of those little boys house.”

“I’ll be home soon just calm down.”He hung up and called Tom on his cell phone.

“Dad…”

“Up the wattage, I’ll be home late tonight.Oh yeah, remember to unplug the phone this time.”He hung up.

The phone rang again.“Daddy, what time you getting off today?”

“I was just about to call you.You alright?”

“I’m fine.It wasn’t as bad as Mason made it out to be.Wanna get something to eat?”

“Scants in thirty minutes?”

“See you there.”

The phone rang again.

“What?” he shouted into the receiver.

“Mr. Simmons, this Wendy Watchman from FR productions.Is this a bad time?”

“No.I’ve been waiting to hear from you.I mean you just send us a check and then nothing.”

“Sorry we were having a little trouble with our financial backers, but know we have a perfect location reserved for two weeks from now.That won’t be a problem will it?”

“No problem.I own my own business I can take off when I want.”

“I must stress that the agreement is only valid if your entire family shows.”

“No problem.I have a wonderful family.I know you’re just going to love them.”

“And you’re sure that you have kept confidentiality?”

“I’ve told no one.My family will just think we’re going on vacation

“Great, all the information you need will be delivered by email. I look forward to meeting you and your family.”

James hung up the phone and let the smile masked his pain slide away.He would have cried but he was meeting Julie and she could always tell.He told his secretary he was leaving for the day, and purposely walked the long route, so not to pass his old office.He missed his office.

It’s been nine months since the first trees began to fall on my Grandma’s farm.I imagined what it must have been like, growing up with nothing but your family to take care of you.Eating only what you grew or raised was a foreign concept to a city girl like myself.I spent some time with my grandma in the original house before the construction began, and I loved watching as she maneuvered around knowing exactly where everything is located.The way she had everyday planned out, yet still managed to spend time naming the new baby ducks.She was at peace here, and I knew how much she was giving up for her family.

I sat in the car and looked at the magnificent estate being built around me.I had been over every plan for every room a thousand times.I constantly roamed the property making sure there were reminders of the farm in every nook and cranny.I didn’t spend long on the farm, but it was the closest I ever got to a happy home.

The gently knocking at my window startled me.I turned to see a sexy gardener motioning me to roll down my window.I did, but found it hard to concentrate with his shirtless chest at eye level.I managed to hear him say Stacey had just left and ok’d the final plant selections for the garden.I told him to leave the garden for last, because Grandma wanted to supervise the project.I watched him walk away until he disappeared behind the Rose bushes.I looked up and saw grandma in the window laughing.

She made a sweeping motion like talking on the phone, and gave the inquisitive eyes.I motioned no, she flashed the disappointed eyes, then disappeared behind the curtains.I sat there with two choices, make the call from the car or make the call from the house and grandma’s watchful eyes.I dialed the first phone number I ever learned and the only number I know I’ll never forget. The phone rang two times before I heard my mother’s normal chipper tone, and the lisp in her speech assured me dad was still the same.

“Hi, Mom.How are you?”

“Mary, I’m glad to hear all is well with you, let me get your brother.”

“No mom, I would like to talk to you.”

“You know I can’t do that.Goodbye Mary.”She hung up.There was nothing.I knew the feeling and I didn’t understand why it surprised me.She had always been that way.Why was I not surprised, an even better question, why did it hurt so much?”

I looked out the window again and let the beauty of the things around me sink in, and I let her go.I decided to go for a walk.I heard they delivered my horse today.Nothing is going to bring me down today.All the pieces were in place, and soon my grandmothers dreams are going to be realized.Soon my dreams were going to be realized.

I got out the car and stretched and inhaled the fresh air.Yeah, I think I’m going to love it here.